Touch panel and touch device

ABSTRACT

A display device includes a light-emitting device; an encapsulation layer disposed on the light-emitting device; an insulating layer on the encapsulation layer; a plurality of first touch sensors on an upper surface of the insulating layer, and arranged in a first direction; a plurality of second touch sensors on the upper surface of the insulating layer, and arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction; and a discharge pattern disposed between the encapsulation layer and the insulating layer, and overlapping an area between a first touch sensor of the plurality of first touch sensors and a second touch sensor of the plurality of second touch sensors. Further, a first end of the discharge pattern is connected to one of the first touch sensor and the second touch sensor through a contact hole of the insulating layer.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/193,179 filed on Nov. 16, 2018 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,871,863 issuedon Dec. 22, 2020), which claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0154456 filed in theRepublic of Korea on Nov. 20, 2017, all of which are hereby expresslyincorporated by reference into the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a touch panel and atouch device.

2. Description of the Related Art

As society develops into an information society, demand for a displaydevice for displaying images is increasing, and various types of displaydevices such as a liquid crystal display device, a plasma displaydevice, and an organic light-emitting display device are being utilized.In order to provide more various functions to a user, such displaydevices provide functions of recognizing a user's touch on a displaypanel and performing an input process based on the recognized touch.

For example, by disposing a touch sensor on a display panel and sensinga change in capacitance caused by a user's touch on the display panel,the presence or absence of the user's touch and a touch position on thedisplay panel can be sensed. In addition, methods of sensing a change incapacitance by sensing a touch include a method of applying touchdriving signals having the same voltage level to respective touchsensors and sensing a change in self-capacitance caused by a touch, anda method of applying touch driving signals having different voltagelevels to adjacent touch sensors and sensing a change in mutualcapacitance generated at the time of touch.

Here, in the method of sensing the change in mutual capacitance, aphenomenon may occur in which an electric field is formed betweenadjacent touch sensors and charges are concentrated to a portion wherethe electric field is formed. As the charges are concentrated, therepulsive force between the touch sensors in a specific area increases.

Thus, the touch sensors may be damaged in the portion where therepulsive force between the touch sensors increases as described above,and in that, due to the damage of the touch sensors, a touch drivingsignal may not be transmitted or touch sensing may not be performed in aspecific region.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure is to provide a touchpanel and a touch device, in which touch sensors can be prevented frombeing damaged due to a phenomenon in which charges are concentrated to aportion where an electric field is formed in a structure that senses atouch using a change in capacitance.

An aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure is to provide a touchpanel and a touch device having a structure for providing anelectrostatic discharge path from a touch sensor disposed in the touchpanel or the touch device.

In addition, an aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure is toprovide a touch display panel and a touch display device to which theabove-mentioned touch panel or touch device is applied.

In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a touchpanel including: a plurality of first touch sensors disposed in a touchsensing area; a plurality of second touch sensors disposed in the touchsensing area and disposed on a same layer as the first touch sensors;one or more first connection patterns disposed on a same layer as thefirst touch sensors, disposed between two first touch sensors of theplurality of first touch sensors, and configured to connect the twofirst touch sensors to each other; one or more second connectionpatterns disposed on a layer different from the first touch sensors,configured to at least partially overlap the first connection pattern,and configured to connect two second touch sensors of the plurality ofsecond touch sensors to each other; and one or more discharge patternsdisposed on a layer different from the first touch sensor, configured tooverlap an area between the first touch sensor and the second touchsensor, and having one end connected to the first touch sensor or thesecond touch sensor.

In another aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a touchpanel including: an insulating layer; a plurality of bridge metalsdisposed under the insulating layer; a plurality of first touch metalsdisposed on an upper surface of the insulating layer so as to bearranged in one direction; and a plurality of second touch metalsdisposed on the upper surface of the insulating layer and arranged in adirection intersecting the one direction to be separated from eachother. One or more first bridge metals among the plurality of bridgemetals are connected to two adjacent second metals among the pluralityof second metals through a hole formed in the insulating layer, and oneor more second bridge metals among the plurality of bridge metals areconnected, at one ends thereof, to the first touch metals or the secondtouch metals through a hole formed in the insulating layer.

In another aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a touchdevice including: a panel on which a plurality of first touch sensorsand a plurality of second touch sensors are disposed; one or more firstconnection patterns disposed on a same layer as the first touch sensorsand the second touch sensors, and configured to connect the two adjacentfirst touch sensors to each other; one or more second connectionpatterns disposed on a layer different from the first touch sensors andthe second touch sensors, and configured to connect the two adjacentsecond touch sensors to each other; and one or more discharge patternsdisposed on a layer different from the first touch sensors and thesecond touch sensors. One portion of each of the discharge patternsoverlaps at least one of the first touch sensors, a remaining portion ofeach of the discharge patterns overlaps at least one of the second touchsensors, and one end of each of the discharge patterns is connected toat least one of the first touch sensors or the second touch sensors.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible toprovide a touch panel and a touch device having a structure in which adischarge pattern is provided at a portion where an electric fieldbetween touch sensors is formed, so that static electricity can bedischarged from the portion where the electric field is formed.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, by providing a touchsensor, disposed in a touch panel or a touch device, with a dischargestructure, it is possible to prevent the touch sensor from being damageddue to a phenomenon in which charges are concentrated to a specificarea.

In addition, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, byapplying the above-mentioned touch panel and touch device to a displaydevice, which is capable of touch sensing, it is possible to reduce theoccurrence of defects in the touch sensor in the display device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the presentdisclosure will be more apparent from the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a schematic configuration of a touchdisplay device according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an example of a cross section taken alongline A-A′ in FIG. 1 when the touch display device illustrated in FIG. 1is an organic light-emitting display device;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views illustrating examples of a schematic structurein which touch sensors are disposed when the touch display deviceaccording to the embodiments of the present disclosure is an organiclight-emitting display device;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an example of a structure for sensing atouch using mutual capacitance in a touch display device according tothe embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an example of when a touch sensor isdamaged due to a charge concentration phenomenon in a touch displaydevice according to the embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an example of a discharge pattern forproviding an electrostatic discharge path of a touch sensor in a touchdisplay device according to the embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating another example of the discharge patternillustrated in FIG. 7;

FIGS. 9 to 11 are views each illustrating an example of a dischargepattern formed in a structure in which touch sensors are of a mesh typein a touch display device according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating an example of a discharge pattern formedin a structure in which touch sensors are modified in a touch displaydevice according to the embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying illustrativedrawings. In designating elements of the drawings by reference numerals,the same elements will be designated by the same reference numeralsalthough they are shown in different drawings. In addition, terms, suchas first, second, A, B, (a), (b) or the like may be used herein whendescribing components of the present disclosure. Each of theseterminologies is not used to define an essence, order or sequence of acorresponding component but used merely to distinguish the correspondingcomponent from other component(s). In the case that it is described thata certain structural element “is connected to”, “is coupled to”, or “isin contact with” another structural element, it should be interpretedthat another structural element may “be connected to”, “be coupled to”,or “be in contact with” the structural elements as well as that thecertain structural element is directly connected to or is in directcontact with another structural element.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a schematic configuration of a touchdisplay device 100 according to embodiments of the present disclosure.Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described focusing on atouch display device 100 having a touch sensing function. However, atouch panel or a touch device is also included in the scope of theembodiments of the present disclosure when the touch panel or the touchdevice provides the touch sensing function.

Referring to FIG. 1, the touch display device 100 according to theembodiments of the present disclosure may include a touch display panel110 provided with a plurality of touch sensors TS and a plurality oftouch lines TL, and a touch driving circuit 120 configured to drive thetouch sensors TS. In addition, the touch display device 100 may includea basic configuration for display driving, in addition to aconfiguration for touch sensing.

For example, a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines maybe disposed in the touch display panel 110, and a plurality ofsub-pixels may be disposed at areas where gate lines and data linesintersect each other. The touch display panel 110 can be divided into anactive area A/A where an image is displayed and a non-active area N/A,which is an outer area of the active area A/A.

Further, the touch display device 100 may include a gate driving circuitconfigured to drive the gate lines, a data driving circuit configured todrive the data lines, a controller configured to control the gatedriving circuit and the data driving circuit, etc. That is, the touchdisplay device 100 according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure has a basic structure for display and may include aconfiguration for display driving and a configuration for touch sensing.In this specification, a description will be made focusing on theconfiguration for touch sensing.

The plurality of touch sensors TS may be disposed on the touch displaypanel 110 in the form of a separate touch panel or in the form embeddedin the touch display panel 110. When the plurality of touch sensors TSare disposed in the form embedded in the touch display panel 110, theplurality of touch sensors TS may be electrodes used for displaydriving, or may be electrodes separately disposed for touch sensing.

For example, when the touch display device 100 is a liquid crystaldisplay device, a common electrode disposed on the touch display panel110 can be used as a touch sensor TS. That is, the common electrodereceives a common voltage during a display driving period and receives atouch driving signal during a touch sensing period so as to serve as atouch sensor TS for touch sensing.

When the touch display device 100 is an organic light emitting displaydevice, a plurality of touch sensors TS can be disposed on anencapsulation layer ENCAP in the touch display panel 110. Accordingly,it is possible to overcome the problem that makes it difficult to formthe touch sensors TS, which are made of a metal material, inside thepanel due to an organic material, and to provide a touch sensingfunction in the organic light-emitting display device.

Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be describedfocusing on when the touch display device 100 is an organiclight-emitting display device, but the embodiments of the presentdisclosure are not limited thereto.

The plurality of touch sensors TS may be a transparent electrode, amesh-shaped electrode, or the like. In addition, the plurality of touchsensors TS may be disposed in various structures depending on a touchsensing method. For example, the plurality of touch sensors TS can bedisposed on the touch display panel 110 in a separated form, and eachtouch sensor TS can be connected to one touch line TL. Then, theplurality of touch sensors TS can sense a touch by sensing a change inself-capacitance caused by a user's touch (self-capacitance sensingmethod).

Alternatively, the plurality of touch sensors TS may include first touchsensors TS1 and second touch sensors TS2 to which voltages of differentlevels are applied. In addition, the plurality of touch sensors TS cansense a touch by sensing a change in mutual capacitance between thefirst touch sensors TS1 and the second touch sensors TS2, which iscaused at the time of touching by the user (mutual-capacitance sensingmethod).

When a touch is sensed by the mutual-capacitance sensing method, theplurality of first touch sensors TS1 can be connected and arranged inone direction. In addition, the plurality of second touch sensors TS2can be connected to each other and arranged in a direction intersectingthe direction in which the first touch sensors TS1 are arranged. Thefirst touch sensors TS1 may be connected to a first touch line TL1 andthe second touch sensors TS2 may be connected to a second touch lineTL2.

In the touch sensing period, voltages of different levels are appliedthrough the first touch line TL1 and the second touch line TL2, and whenthe user touches the touch panel a change in capacitance occurs betweenthe first touch sensors TS1 and the second touch sensors TS2. Further,the touch driving circuit 120 drives the first touch sensors TS1 and thesecond touch sensors TS2 in the touch sensing period and senses a changein capacitance between the first touch sensors TS1 and the second touchsensors TS2.

The touch driving circuit 120 converts a sensed value into digital dataand transmits the converted digital data to a touch controller, so thatthe touch controller can detect the presence or absence of the touch andthe touch position using the digital data. In addition, the touchdriving circuit 120 can be configured separately from the data drivingcircuit for driving the data lines, or may be configured in a singlechip form.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a cross section taken along line A-A′in the touch display device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, and illustratesan area adjacent to a portion where the touch sensors TS and the touchdriving circuit 120 are connected to each other. Referring to FIG. 2,source/drain electrodes S/D for display driving are disposed on apolyimide layer 201. In addition, a touch pad TP to which a touch lineTL is connected may be disposed. The touch pad TP may be made of thesame material as the source/drain electrodes S/D.

A first flattening layer 202 is disposed on the source/drain electrodesS/D and contact holes are formed in the first flattening layer 202 inthe portions corresponding to the source/drain electrodes S/D. A firstelectrode layer 203 is disposed on the first flattening layer 202, andthe first electrode layer 203 is connected to the source/drainelectrodes S/D through contact holes formed in the first flatteninglayer 202. Here, the first electrode layer 203 may be an anode.

Further, an organic light-emitting layer 205 is disposed on the firstelectrode layer 203 and a bank layer 204 is disposed on an area wherethe organic light emitting layer 205 is not disposed. Also, a secondelectrode layer 206 is disposed on the organic light-emitting layer 205,and the second electrode layer 206 may be a cathode.

A first protection layer 207, a second protection layer 208 and a thirdprotection layer 209 may be laminated on the second electrode layer 206.Here, the first protection layer 207, the second protection layer 208,and the third protection layer 209 may be considered to constitute oneencapsulation layer ENCAP. Such an encapsulation layer ENCAP may form adam (DAM) having a predetermined height to prevent collapse at aninclined portion.

A structure for touch sensing may also be formed on the basic structurefor display driving. In addition, a touch buffer layer 210 is disposedon the encapsulation layer ENCAP and a touch insulating layer 211 isdisposed on the touch buffer layer 210. Further, the touch sensors TSand the touch lines TL are disposed on the touch insulating layer 211and the second flattening layer 212 is disposed on the touch sensors TSand the touch lines TL. The second flattening layer 212 may be anovercoat layer OC.

When the touch sensors TS are arranged in a structure for themutual-capacitance sensing method, a portion where the first touchsensors TS1 are connected to each other and a portion where the secondtouch sensors TS2 are connected to each other intersect each other. Asillustrated in FIG. 2, the second touch sensors TS2 may be configured tobe connected to each other through a metal disposed below the touchinsulation layer 211. As described above, by providing the structure inwhich the touch sensors TS and the touch lines TL are disposed on theencapsulation layer ENCAP in the organic light-emitting display device,it is possible to easily form a configuration for touch sensing in thepanel.

Also, when a White Organic Light Emitting Diode (W-OLED) is used in theorganic light-emitting display device capable of touch sensing, a colorfilter CF can be disposed on the encapsulation layer ENCAP. Inparticular, FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrates examples of a cross-sectionalstructure in which the touch sensors TS and the color filters CF aredisposed on the encapsulation layer ENCAP.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, an encapsulation layer ENCAP can be disposedon the cathode (Cathode), and the touch sensors TS can be disposed onthe encapsulation layer ENCAP. Here, by forming the encapsulation layerENCAP to have a thickness T of a predetermined level or more (e.g., 5 μmor more), it is possible to reduce a parasitic capacitance formedbetween the cathode (Cathode) and the touch sensors TS. Therefore,deterioration of touch sensing sensitivity due to the parasiticcapacitance can be prevented.

In addition, the touch sensors TS may be transparent electrodes ormesh-type electrodes. When the touch sensors TS are mesh-type sensorsincluding holes H, the holes H can be located corresponding tolight-emitting areas of the sub-pixels. By making the holes H includedin the touch sensors TS correspond to the light-emitting areas ofsub-pixels, touch sensing can be performed without deteriorating thelight-emitting performance of the organic light-emitting display device.

Further, the color filters CF are disposed on the encapsulation layerENCAP and the vertical positions of the color filters CF and the touchsensors TS can be variously designed. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 3, the color filters CF and a black matrix BM can be disposed onthe touch sensors TS. In addition, the color filters CF and the blackmatrix BM can be disposed on the overcoat layer OC disposed on the touchsensors TS.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the color filters CF and theblack matrix BM can be disposed under the touch sensors TS. In addition,the touch sensors TS can be disposed on the overcoat layer OC disposedon the color filters CF and the black matrix BM. That is, the touchsensors TS and the color filters CF can be designed to have an optimalpositional relationship in consideration of touch performance anddisplay performance.

Therefore, the embodiments of the present disclosure overcome thedifficulties of forming touch sensors TS inside a panel in an organiclight-emitting display device and enable touch sensing withoutdeteriorating display performance. Further, the touch display device 100can sense a touch through the self-capacitance sensing method or themutual-capacitance sensing method. Alternatively, the self-capacitancesensing method and the mutual-capacitance sensing method can beperformed in combination so as to sense a touch.

When a touch is sensed by the mutual-capacitance sensing method, signalshaving different voltage levels are applied to adjacent touch sensor TS,so that a repulsive force may increase due to the charges concentratedto the portion where an electric field is formed. In addition, due tothe increase of the repulsive force, the touch sensors TS can bedamaged.

In more detail, FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a structure for sensinga touch by the mutual-capacitance sensing method, and FIG. 6 illustratesan example of when touch sensors are damaged in the touch sensor TSstructure illustrated in FIG. 5. Referring to FIG. 5, the touch sensorsTS in the touch display device 100 according to the embodiments of thepresent disclosure may include first touch sensors TS1 and second touchsensors TS2 to which signals having different voltage levels are appliedin the touch sensing period.

The first touch sensors TS1 can be arranged in the X-axis directionwhile being connected to each other through a first connection patternCP1. Also, the second touch sensors TS2 can be arranged in the Y-axisdirection while being connected to each other through a secondconnection pattern CP2. Here, the first connection pattern CP1 and thesecond connection pattern CP2 can intersect each other, and any one ofthe first connection pattern CP1 and the second connection pattern CP2can be connected through a pattern disposed in another layer at theintersection point.

In addition, the first touch sensors TS1 and the second touch sensorsTS2 form an electric field with respect to each other, and a mutualelectrostatic capacitance changes when the user touches them. The touchcan thus be sensed by sensing the change in mutual capacitance. Also,the first touch sensors TS1 and the second touch sensors TS2 receivetouch driving signals having different voltage levels and form anelectric field, causing a phenomenon in which charges are concentratedto a specific area.

For example, the charge concentration phenomenon may occur at a portionwhere the first connection pattern CP1 and the second connection patternCP2 overlap each other. Referring to FIG. 6, the first connectionpattern CP1 is disposed on the same layer as the first touch sensors TS1and connects adjacent first touch sensors TS1. In addition, the secondconnection pattern CP2 is disposed on a layer different from the secondtouch sensors TS2 and connects adjacent second touch sensors TS2.

Therefore, the first connection pattern CP1 and the second connectionpattern CP2 overlap each other at a point where the first connectionpattern CP1 and the second connection pattern CP2 intersect each other.In addition, the first connection pattern CP1 and the second connectionpattern CP2 are applied with signals of different voltage levels andhave a small area compared to the touch sensors TS. Therefore, due to acharge-concentration phenomenon or a bottleneck phenomenon, therepulsive force between the first connection pattern CP1 and the secondconnection pattern CP2 may increase.

Accordingly, the first connection pattern CP1 or the second connectionpattern CP2 may be damaged. In this instance, since the connection ofthe first touch sensors TS1 or the second touch sensors TS2 is cut off,the touch sensing cannot be performed, which results in a failure of thedisplay device 100.

The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a touch sensor TShaving an electrostatic discharge path and a touch display device 100including such a touch sensor TS, so that the touch sensor TS can beprevented from being damaged in an area where a potential differencebetween signals applied for touch sensing occurs.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a touch sensor TS structure having anelectrostatic discharge path in the touch display device 100 accordingto the embodiments of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 7, thetouch sensors TS disposed in the touch display device 100 include firsttouch sensors TS1 and second touch sensors TS2 to which signals havingdifferent voltage levels are applied in a touch sensing period.

The first touch sensors TS1 may be arranged in the X-axis directionwhile being connected to each other through a first connection patternCP1. That is, the first touch sensors TS1, connected to each other inthe X-axis direction, can be arranged so as to form one group in thetouch display panel 110.

Also, the second touch sensors TS2 may be arranged in the Y-axisdirection while being connected to each other through a secondconnection pattern CP2. Likewise, the second touch sensors TS2,connected to each other in the Y-axis direction, can be arranged so asto form one group in the touch display panel 110.

The first connection pattern CP1 and the second connection pattern CP2can also be disposed on the same layer as the layer on which the touchsensors TS are disposed or on a layer different from the layer on whichthe touch sensors TS are disposed. For example, the first connectionpattern CP1 can be disposed on the same layer as the touch sensors TS,and the second connection pattern CP2 can be disposed under aninsulating layer 500 located below the touch sensors TS.

When the first touch sensors TS1 and the first connection pattern CP1are disposed on the same layer, at least two first touch sensors TS1 andat least one first connection pattern CP1, which are connected to eachother, may be regarded as a “first touch metal.” In addition, since thesecond touch sensors TS2 and the second connection pattern CP2 aredisposed on different layers, each of the second touch sensors TS2 maybe regarded as one “second touch metal.”

The second connection pattern CP2 disposed under the insulating layer500 can also be referred to as a “bridge metal.” The first touch sensorsTS1 or the second touch sensors TS2 can also connect to a dischargepattern DP that is formed to provide an electrostatic discharge path.Such a discharge pattern DP may be disposed on a layer different fromthe layer on which the touch sensors TS are disposed. For example, thedischarge pattern DP can be disposed on the layer where the secondconnection pattern CP2, connecting the second touch sensors TS2, isdisposed.

The discharge pattern DP can also be arranged so as to overlap an areawhere the first touch sensors TS1 and the second touch sensors TS2 forman electric field. That is, the discharge pattern DP can be disposed soas to overlap an area between the first touch sensor TS1 and the secondtouch sensor TS2.

One end of the discharge pattern DP may be connected to the first touchsensor TS1 or the second touch sensor TS2. Here, the discharge patternDP may be connected to the outermost point of the first touch sensor TS1or the outermost point of the second touch sensor TS2. The other end ofthe discharge pattern DP that is not connected to a touch sensor canoverlap another touch sensor TS.

For example, when one end of the discharge pattern DP is connected tothe first touch sensor TS1, the other end of the discharge pattern DPcan overlap the second touch sensor TS2. In addition, when one end ofthe discharge pattern DP is connected to the second touch sensor TS2,the other end of the discharge pattern DP can overlap the first touchsensor TS1.

That is, the discharge pattern DP is connected to the touch sensor andhas a structure in which one end is connected to the first touch sensorTS1 or the second touch sensor TS2 and the other end is not connected tothe touch sensors TS. The other end of the discharge pattern DP, whichis not connected to the touch sensors TS, is disposed to overlap a touchsensor TS to which a signal having a voltage level, which is differentfrom that of a signal applied to the touch sensor TS to which thedischarge pattern DP is connected, is applied.

Accordingly, the discharge pattern DP connected to the first touchsensor TS1 overlaps the second touch sensor TS2. Also, the dischargepattern DP connected to the second touch sensor TS2 overlaps the firsttouch sensor TS1.

Since the discharge pattern DP connected to the first touch sensor TS1overlaps the second touch sensor TS2, an electric field can be formedbetween the discharge pattern DP and the second touch sensor TS2.Likewise, since the discharge pattern DP connected to the second touchsensor TS2 overlaps the first touch sensor TS1, an electric field can beformed between the discharge pattern DP and the first touch sensor TS1.Thus, charges can be concentrated to the discharge pattern DP. Then, thedischarge pattern DP can serve as an electrostatic discharge path.

When the first touch sensor TS1 and the discharge pattern DP areconnected to each other, since charges are concentrated to the dischargepattern DP connected to the first touch sensor TS1, a repulsive forceincreases in the area where the discharge pattern DP and the secondtouch sensor TS2 are overlapped with each other.

Therefore, when a touch driving signal is applied to the first touchsensor TS1 and the second touch sensor TS2 in the touch sensing period,the repulsive force increases in the area where the discharge pattern DPoverlaps the touch sensor TS. Thus, the discharge pattern DP may bedamaged due to the increase in repulsive force. That is, by making thedischarge pattern DP form the charge-concentration area, it is possibleto prevent either the touch sensor TS or the connection pattern CP frombeing damaged due to the charge concentration.

In addition, by forming the discharge pattern DP on the layer where thesecond connection pattern CP2 connecting the second touch sensors TS2 isdisposed, the discharge pattern DP can be easily formed. Since thedischarge pattern DP is formed using the bridge metal forming the secondconnection pattern CP2, the discharge pattern DP can be formed through aprocess of forming the second connection pattern CP2.

Therefore, in the layer where the bridge metal is disposed, a portion ofthe bridge metal (a connection pattern) is connected to two touchsensors TS and the remaining bridge metal (a discharge pattern) is onlyconnected to any one of the touch sensors TS.

Referring to the cross section taken along line D-D′ in FIG. 7 in whichthe discharge pattern DP is disposed, the discharge pattern DP isdisposed under the insulating layer 500 disposed under the touch sensorsTS. One end of the discharge pattern DP is connected to the second touchsensor TS2, and the other end of the discharge pattern DP overlaps thefirst touch sensor TS1.

When a touch driving signal is applied to the first touch sensor TS1 andthe second touch sensor TS2, the discharge pattern DP becomes an areawhere charges are concentrated from the first touch sensor TS1.Therefore, the discharge pattern DP constitutes the electrostaticdischarge path. In addition, even if the repulsive force increases dueto charge concentration, damage may occur in the discharge pattern DP.

Therefore, referring to the cross section taken along line E-E′ in FIG.7 where the first connection pattern CP1 and the second connectionpattern CP2 intersect each other, it is possible to prevent the secondconnection pattern CP2 from being damaged due to the chargeconcentration. Meanwhile, such a discharge pattern DP can be disposedwith a thickness smaller than that of the touch sensors TS or theconnection patterns CP.

FIG. 8 illustrates another example of the structure of the dischargepattern DP illustrated in FIG. 7, in which examples of a cross sectiontaken along line D-D′ and a cross section taken along line E-E′ in FIG.7. Referring to FIG. 8, the discharge pattern DP can be disposed on alayer different from the layer on which the touch sensors TS aredisposed, and can be disposed such that one end thereof is connected tothe second touch sensor TS2 and the other end overlaps the first touchsensor TS1.

Here, the thickness t1 of the discharge pattern DP is smaller than thethickness t2 of the touch sensor TS. Alternatively, the thickness t1 ofthe discharge pattern DP may be smaller than the thickness t3 of theconnection pattern CP. In order to improve the electrostatic dischargeperformance of the discharge pattern DP, the degree of chargeconcentration to the discharge pattern DP should be increased. In orderto increase the degree of charge concentration, the charge density inthe discharge pattern DP should be increased.

Thus, in order to design the charge concentration area by increasing thecharge density, the thickness of the discharge pattern DP can be madesmaller than the thickness of the touch sensors TS or the connectionpattern CP. For example, when the potentials at two specific points 1and 2 on a conductor surface are V1 and V2, V1 and V2 are equal to eachother (V1=V2).

${{{Since}\mspace{14mu} V} = {k \cdot \frac{Q}{R}}},{{k \cdot \frac{Q\; 1}{R\; 1}} = {k \cdot {\frac{Q\; 2}{R\; 2}.}}}$

Therefore, it can be seen that since Q1:Q2=R1:R2, charge amounts Q1 andQ2 at the two points 1 and 2 are respectively proportional to thecurvature radii R1 and R2 at the two points 1 and 2.

Here, assuming charge densities at the two points 1 and 2 are σ1 and σ2,since

${Q = {4\pi\; R^{2}\sigma}},{{k \cdot \frac{4\pi\; R\; 1^{2}{\sigma 1}}{R\; 1}} = {k \cdot {\frac{4\pi\; R\; 2^{2}{\sigma 2}}{R\; 2}.}}}$

Accordingly, since σ1:σ2=R2:R1, it can be seen that the charge densityis increased as the curvature radius is decreased. Therefore, byreducing the thickness of the discharge pattern DP connected to thetouch sensors TS, it is possible to make the charge density of thedischarge pattern DP larger than the charge density of the touch sensorsTS.

In addition, by making the degree of charge concentration to thedischarge pattern DP increase through the structure, in which theelectric charge density formed in the discharge pattern DP is large, itis possible to enhance the functions of the discharge pattern DP as anarea in which an electrostatic discharge path is provided and damage mayoccur. The discharge pattern DP can also be applied to when the touchsensors TS have various structures.

Next, FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a discharge pattern DP formed ina structure, in which touch sensors TS disposed in the touch displaydevice 100 are mesh-type touch sensors. Referring to FIG. 9, first touchsensors TS1 is connected in the X-axis direction through a firstconnection pattern CP1, and second touch sensors TS2 is connected in theY-axis direction through a second connection pattern CP2. The firsttouch sensors TS1 and the second touch sensors TS2 are also arranged ina mesh type.

In addition, a discharge pattern DP is connected to the outermost pointof the first touch sensors TS1 or the second touch sensors TS2, and isdisposed on a layer different from the layer on which the touch sensorsTS are disposed. As shown, one end of the discharge pattern DP isconnected to the first touch sensor TS1 or the second touch sensor TS2and the other end overlaps the second touch sensor TS2 or the firsttouch sensor TS1.

Referring to the cross section taken along line F-F′ in FIG. 9, thedischarge pattern DP is disposed under an insulating layer 500 disposedunder the touch sensors TS. In addition, one end of the dischargepattern DP is connected to the second touch sensor TS2, and the otherend of the discharge pattern DP is disposed to overlap the first touchsensor TS1.

Since the discharge pattern DP and the first touch sensor TS1 areoverlapped with each other, an electric field is formed in thecorresponding area and charges can be concentrated to the dischargepattern DP. Therefore, the discharge pattern DP functions as anelectrostatic discharge path and when the charge concentrationphenomenon is excessive, damage is induced to occur in the dischargepattern DP, thereby making it possible to prevent the touch sensors TSor the connection pattern CP from being damaged. Such mesh-type touchsensors TS may also include outer protruding portions so as to increasethe capacitance formed between adjacent touch sensors TS.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate other examples of the discharge pattern DPformed in a structure, in which touch sensors TS disposed in the touchdisplay device 100 are of a mesh type. Referring to FIG. 10, first touchsensors TS1 are connected in the X-axis direction through a firstconnection pattern CP1, and second touch sensors TS2 are connected inthe Y-axis direction through a second connection pattern CP2.

The first touch sensor TS1 and the second touch sensor TS2 are a meshtype, and include outer protruding portions thereof. Since the firsttouch sensor TS1 and the second touch sensor TS2 include protrudingportions and the distance between the touch sensors TS is reduced due tothe protruding portions, the capacitance between the first touch sensorTS1 and the second touch sensor TS2 is increased, thereby improvingtouch sensing sensitivity.

The structure of the first touch sensor TS1 and the second touch sensorTS2 can be formed by forming a mesh-type touch metal and then removingthe boundary portion between the first touch sensor TS1 and the secondtouch sensor TS2. Therefore, the protruding portions of the first touchsensor TS1 and the second touch sensor TS2 can be positioned in astraight line with each other.

In addition, the first connection pattern CP1 and the second connectionpattern CP2 may also be formed in a mesh type, and there is a portionwhere the first connection pattern CP1 and the second connection patternCP2 overlap each other. In order to prevent the first connection patternCP1 and the second connection pattern CP2 from being damaged due to thecharge concentration transfer at a portion where the first connectionpattern CP1 and the second connection pattern CP2 are overlapped witheach other as described above, a discharge pattern DP connected to thefirst touch sensor TS1 or the second touch sensor TS2 can be formed inthe area between the first touch sensor TS1 and the second touch sensorTS2.

The discharge pattern DP is disposed on a layer different from the touchsensors TS, one end of the discharge pattern DP is connected to thefirst touch sensor TS1 or the second touch sensor TS2, and the other endof the discharge pattern DP is connected to the second touch sensor TS2or the first touch sensor TS1. Further, the discharge pattern DP isconnected to the outermost points of the first touch sensor TS1 and thesecond touch sensor TS2, and can be connected a protruding portion or anon-protruding portion at the outside of the first touch sensor TS1 orthe second touch sensor TS2.

Next, FIG. 11 illustrates examples of a cross section taken along lineG-G′ where a discharge pattern DP is connected to a non-protruding outerportion of a touch sensor TS illustrated in FIG. 10 and a cross sectiontaken along line H-H′ where the discharge pattern DP is connected to aprotruding outer portion of a touch sensor TS. Referring to the crosssection taken along the line G-G′ in FIG. 11, the discharge pattern DPdisposed under the insulating layer 500 can be connected to anon-protruding outer portion of the second touch sensor TS2. Inaddition, the discharge pattern DP is disposed so as to overlap thefirst touch sensor TS1.

Referring to the cross section taken along line H-H′ in FIG. 11, thedischarge pattern DP disposed under the insulating layer 500 can beconnected to a protruding outer portion of the second touch sensor TS2.Further, the discharge pattern DP is disposed to overlap the first touchsensor TS1. Therefore, by making mesh-type touch sensors TS includeprotruding portions, it is possible to provide a discharge path througha structure connected to the discharge pattern DP while improving touchsensing sensitivity by increasing capacitance formed between the touchsensors TS.

In addition, even if a portion where the first connection pattern CP1and the second connection pattern CP2 overlap each other is increased,since charges are concentrated to the discharge pattern DP to inducedamage in the discharge pattern DP, it is possible to prevent the touchsensors TS or the connection patterns CP from being damaged. In order tofurther increase the capacitance formed between the touch sensors TS, bydividing the boundary between the touch sensors TS in a shape similar toa gear wheel, rather than in a linear shape, it is possible to increasethe number of points where the capacitance is formed.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example of a discharge pattern DP formed in astructure, in which mesh-type touch sensors TS are modified in the touchdisplay device 100 according to embodiments of the present disclosure.Referring to FIG. 12, first touch sensors TS1 are connected in theX-axis direction through a first connection pattern CP1, and secondtouch sensors TS2 are connected in the Y-axis direction through a secondconnection pattern CP2.

The first touch sensors TS1 and the second touch sensors TS2 are formedin a mesh type. Here, the boundary between the first touch sensor TS1and the second touch sensor TS2 is formed in a zigzag shape instead of alinear shape, so that the boundary can have a shape similar to a gearwheel.

Therefore, compared to the structure in which the boundary between thefirst touch sensor TS1 and the second touch sensor TS2 is a straightline, the number of points where a capacitance is formed between thefirst touch sensor TS1 and the second touch sensor TS2 is increased, sothat the touch sensing sensitivity can be further improved.

Here, a dummy pattern separated from a touch sensor TS may exist insidethe touch sensor TS. Such a dummy pattern corresponds to a portion,which is separated from the touch sensor TS so as not to be applied witha signal. Further, the capacitance of each touch sensor TS can beadjusted by adjusting the presence or absence of a dummy pattern, thenumber of disposed dummy patterns, or the like.

Since the first touch sensor TS1 and the second touch sensor TS2 havingsuch a modified structure also have a structure in which the firstconnection pattern CP1 and the second connection pattern CP2 overlapeach other, a discharge pattern DP can be formed in the area between thefirst touch sensor TS1 and the second touch sensor TS2. The dischargepattern DP is disposed on a layer different from the first touch sensorTS1 and the second touch sensor TS2, and one end of the dischargepattern DP is connected to the first touch sensor TS1 or the secondtouch sensor TS2.

In addition, the other end of the discharge pattern DP is not connectedto the touch sensors TS and is disposed so as to overlap the secondtouch sensor TS2 or the first touch sensor TS1. Therefore, a potentialdifference is generated between the discharge pattern DP and a touchsensor TS, which overlaps the discharge pattern DP, and charges areinduced to be concentrated to the discharge pattern DP, so that thedischarge pattern functions as the electrostatic discharge path. Inaddition, by causing charges to be concentrated to the discharge patternDP, damage is induced to occur in the discharge pattern DP, so that itis possible to prevent the touch sensor TS or the connection pattern CPfrom being damaged.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, by forming adischarge pattern DP, which is connected to any one touch sensor TSbetween touch sensors having a potential difference and overlaps anothertouch sensor TS, static electricity can be discharged through thedischarge pattern DP. In addition, by inducing charges to beconcentrated to the discharge pattern DP so as to cause damage to occurin the discharge pattern DP, it is possible to prevent the touch sensorTS or the connection pattern CP from being damaged.

Further, the electrostatic discharge performance can be improved byadjusting the thickness of the discharge pattern DP, and the dischargepattern can be easily implemented by forming the discharge pattern DP onthe layer where a bridge metal connecting touch sensors TS is disposed.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure has beendescribed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosureas disclosed in the accompanying claims. Therefore, exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure have been described for the sakeof brevity and clarity. The scope of the present disclosure shall beconstrued based on the accompanying claims so all of the technical ideasincluded within the scope equivalent to the claims belong to the presentdisclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: a light-emittingdevice; an encapsulation layer disposed on the light-emitting device; aninsulating layer on the encapsulation layer; a plurality of first touchsensors on an upper surface of the insulating layer, and arranged in afirst direction; a plurality of second touch sensors on the uppersurface of the insulating layer, and arranged in a second directionintersecting the first direction; and a discharge pattern disposedbetween the encapsulation layer and the insulating layer, andoverlapping an area between a first touch sensor of the plurality offirst touch sensors and a second touch sensor of the plurality of secondtouch sensors, wherein a first end of the discharge pattern is connectedto one of the first touch sensor and the second touch sensor through acontact hole of the insulating layer, wherein a second end of thedischarge pattern overlaps with at least a part of the other of thefirst touch sensor and the second touch sensor, and wherein thedischarge pattern includes a first portion including the first end andpassing through the contact hole of the insulating layer, and the firstend is connected to an outermost point of the one of the first touchsensor and the second touch sensor.
 2. The display device of claim 1,wherein the discharge pattern further includes a second portionincluding the second end and disposed along a lower portion of theinsulating layer, and at least a part of the second portion overlapswith the at least a part of the other of the first touch sensor and thesecond touch sensor.
 3. The display device of claim 1, furthercomprising: a first connection pattern on the upper surface of theinsulating layer, and disposed between two first touch sensors of theplurality of first touch sensors to connect the two first touch sensorsto each other; and a second connection pattern disposed between theencapsulation layer and the insulating layer, and disposed between twosecond touch sensors of the plurality of second touch sensors to connectthe two second touch sensors to each other.
 4. The display device ofclaim 3, wherein the first connection pattern, the plurality of firsttouch sensors, and the plurality of second touch sensors are disposed ona same layer.
 5. The display device of claim 3, wherein the secondconnection pattern and the discharge pattern are disposed on a layerdifferent from the first connection pattern, the plurality of firsttouch sensors, and the plurality of second touch sensors.
 6. A displaydevice comprising: a light-emitting device; an encapsulation layerdisposed on the light-emitting device; an insulating layer on theencapsulation layer; a plurality of first touch sensors on an uppersurface of the insulating layer, and arranged in a first direction; aplurality of second touch sensors on the upper surface of the insulatinglayer, and arranged in a second direction intersecting the firstdirection; and a discharge pattern disposed between the encapsulationlayer and the insulating layer, and overlapping an area between a firsttouch sensor of the plurality of first touch sensors and a second touchsensor of the plurality of second touch sensors, wherein a first end ofthe discharge pattern is connected to one of the first touch sensor andthe second touch sensor through a contact hole of the insulating layer,wherein the first touch sensor and the second touch sensor have a meshtype, and the first end of the discharge pattern is connected to one ofa first protrusion protruding from a side of the first touch sensor anda second protrusion protruding from a side of the second touch sensor.7. The display device of claim 6, further comprising: a first connectionpattern on the upper surface of the insulating layer, and disposedbetween two first touch sensors of the plurality of first touch sensorsto connect the two first touch sensors to each other; and a secondconnection pattern disposed between the encapsulation layer and theinsulating layer, and disposed between two second touch sensors of theplurality of second touch sensors to connect the two second touchsensors to each other.
 8. The display device of claim 7, wherein thefirst connection pattern, the plurality of first touch sensors, and theplurality of second touch sensors are disposed on a same layer.
 9. Thedisplay device of claim 7, the second connection pattern and thedischarge pattern are disposed on a layer different from the firstconnection pattern, the plurality of first touch sensors, and theplurality of second touch sensors.